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2 Chronicles 7

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 NASB  NKJV  NRSV  TEV   NJB
(LXX versing)
The Shekinah Glory Solomon Dedicates the Temple The Consecration of the Sanctuary and the Divine Admonition The Dedication of the Temple The Dedication
7:1-3 7:1-3
 (3d)		 7:1-3
 (3d)		 7:1-6 7:1-3
Sacrifices Offered
7:4-6 7:4-7 7:4-6 7:4-6
7:7 7:7 7:7 7:7-10
The Feast of Dedication
7:8-10 7:8-11 7:8-10 7:8-10
God's Promise and Warning God Appears to Solomon Again YHWH Appears and Gives a Warning
7:11 God's Second Appearance to Solomon 7:11 7:11-20 7:11-22
7:12-18 7:12-18 7:12-18
7:19-22 7:19-22 7:19-22
7:21-22

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:1-3
  1Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. 3All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."

7:1 YHWH confirmed His acceptance of Solomon's temple in two ways.

  1. fire fell from heaven and consumed the burnt offering (probably the original ones, not each and every one for the entire week), cf. Lev. 9:24; 1 Kgs. 18:24,38; 1 Chr. 21:26.
  2. the shekinah cloud of glory filled the structure; see note at 2 Chr. 6:1.

This is not mentioned in 1 Kings 8. See Josephus Antiq. 6.4.4-6.

7:3 "He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting" This was a liturgical faith affirmation (cf. 2 Ch. 7:6,10. See full note at 2 Chr. 5:13.

It is possible that only the Levites sang and played music, while the assembly interjected liturgical statements at set points.

"lovingkindness" This is a special covenant term for YHWH's covenant loyalty and faithfulness (cf. 2 Chr. 7:6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:4-6
  4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the Lord, which King David had made for giving praise to the Lord—"for His lovingkindness is everlasting"—whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing.

7:5 The parallel in 1 Kgs. 8:63 calls these offerings "peace offerings," meaning the assembled multitude could eat most of each animal. This is how this large gathered crowd was fed for 15 days.

7:6 This is another text that links David and Solomon (i.e., 2 Chr. 7:1 and 1 Chr. 21:26). Solomon continues the covenant of David (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17).

This is also another mention of "Levites." The Chronicler may have been a Levite because he highlights their presence and ministry.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:7
  7Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to contain the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat.

7:7 Apparently there was not enough room on the bronze altar of sacrifice to burn all the animals, so Solomon expanded the burning sites. This was a unique occurrence (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:64-65).

There may have been a week of dedication sacrifices and a later week for the Feast of Booths.

"the bronze altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:8-10
  8So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. 9On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days and the feast seven days. 10Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.

7:8 "from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt" This is the geographical extensions of the Promised Land (cf. Numbers 34; Joshua 15; 1 Kgs. 4:21).

  1. the southern boundary was the brook of Egypt, cf. Num. 33:5; Josh. 15:4,47; it was well into the Negev and level with the Wilderness of Zin; it does not refer to the Nile, but a desert wadi (i.e., Wadi Al-Arish)
  2. the northern boundary phrase refers to the southern boundary of the country of "Hammath," not the city. It was above Damascus (cf. 1 Chr. 13:5).

The normal idiom for the Promised Land became "from Dan to Beersheba" (the northern city and a southern city).

7:9 Solomon's dedication coincided with the "Feast of Booths." On the eighth day of that annual feast there was a "solemn assembly" (cf. Lev. 23:36; Num. 29:35-38).

7:10 "to their tents" This was an idiom from the days of the wilderness wanderings from which "the Feast of Booths" got its name. By this time Israel lived in houses, not tents (i.e., 1 Kgs. 8:66).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:11
  11Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the Lord and in his palace.

7:11 Solomon's two early building projects (i.e., his palace and the temple) are mentioned (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:1,10). Hiram, king of Tyre, offered building materials and artisans for both.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:12-18
  12Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 16For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 18then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.'"

7:12 YHWH had appeared to Solomon earlier in a dream at Gibeon (cf. 1 Kings 3). This is another wonderful personal revelation (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:2-9).

7:13 "If" This covenant is a conditional covenant (see "if," 2 Chr. 7:17 [twice], 17,19). This whole subject of "conditional" or "unconditional" covenants is difficult because YHWH's promises functioned on two levels.

  1. His redemptive plans for Israel (i.e., the Messiah, i.e., Isaiah 53), which are unconditional
  2. His dealings with individuals, which are always conditional

Also remember that in the OT, "the two ways" was certainly conditional (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:15,19; Psalm 1). Choices have consequences in time and eternity but so does YHWH's choice of redemption.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

"shut up the heavens. . ." See note at 2 Chr. 6:26-28.

7:14 Notice the conditions on "My people."

  1. humble themselves ‒ BDB 488, KB 484, Niphal IMPERFECT, cf. Lev. 26:41; 1 Kgs. 21:29; 2 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 12:6,7,12; 32:26
  2. pray ‒ BDB 813, KB 933, Hithpael IMPERFECT
  3. seek My face ‒ BDB 134, KB 152, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Deut. 4:29; 2 Sam. 21:1; 1 Chr. 16:11; 2 Chr. 11:16; Ps. 24:6; 27:8; 34:4; 105:4
  4. turn from their wicked ways ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERFECT;

This is not a one-time action but an ongoing attitude (i.e., imperfect stems). This attitude set the spiritual stage for YHWH to act.

SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

"then I will. . ." This is conditional covenant terminology. YHWH is waiting for His covenant people to act like His covenant people. YHWH's blessing flows from obedience (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28).

  1. I will hear ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. 2 Chr. 6:19,20,21,23,25,27,30,33,35,39,40
  2. I will forgive ‒ BDB 699, KB 757, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. 2 Chr. 6:21,25,27,30,39
  3. I will heal ‒ BDB 950, KB 1272, Qal IMPERFECT

All of these imperfects are in response of sinners seeking Him at the new temple (or facing the new temple, 2 Chronicles 6).

All of these are an ongoing promise to God's repentant and obedient children. This was not meant to be a special occasion or a one-time event.

Through the years I have heard several sermons on this text applied to the USA. The USA is not national Israel. The USA is not part of YHWH's eternal redemptive plan. Modern believers are not part of a performance-based covenant (i.e., Acts 15; Galatians 3; Hebrews). This text could apply as an application or significance but not as an original intent of the inspired author of Chronicles. Be careful of proof-texting OT texts and bringing them directly into the NT grace-based covenant.

"will forgive" Notice this does not involve a sacrifice. It is a declaration from YHWH. This set the theological stage for "declared righteous" of the NT (cf. Romans 4).

"heal their land" Exactly what this imagery means is uncertain. It may refer to

  1. judgments of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 removed
  2. restoration of peace and security
  3. restoration of proper worship
  4. restoration of godly leadership

7:15 This phrase shows that the theological context of chapter 7 goes back to 2 Chr. 6:20,40.

7:16 YHWH wants His people to seek Him. He wants to forgive, restore, and bless them! His fellowship was the purpose of the sacrificial system.

"eyes. . .heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD.

7:17 "if" See notes at 2 Chr. 7:13.

"walk" See note at 2 Chr. 6:27.

"statutes. . .ordinances" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION.

7:18 This goes back to YHWH's promises to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 (cf. 2 Chr. 6:16).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 7:19-22
  19"But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, 'Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?' 22And they will say, 'Because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.'"

7:19 Notice the things that break the fellowship of the covenant relationship.

  1. if you turn away (lit. "leave") ‒ BDB 736, KB 806, Qal PERFECT with waw
  2. if you forsake My statutes and My commandments ‒ BDB 678, KB 733, Qal PERFECT
  3. if you commit idolatry (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:6) ‒
    1. go after ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal PERFECT with waw
    2. serve ‒ BDB 712, KB 773, Qal PERFECT with waw
    3. worship ‒ BDB 1005, KB 295, Hishtaphel PERFECT with waw

This disobedience and idolatry was not a one-time act but a lifestyle. They were YHWH's covenant people in name only. In their hearts, minds, actions they were fertility worshipers.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

7:20 The consequence of idolatry was exile (cf. 2 Chr. 6:36-37). As YHWH took the pagan nations out of Canaan (cf. Gen. 15:16-21), He will take out the Israelites also (i.e., the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, cf. Deut. 29:28).

Notice 2 Chr. 7:21-22, where YHWH prophesies about how the nations view His judgments on Israel.

"I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples" See 1 Kgs. 9:7-8.

I have included my commentary notes from Deut. 28:37.

You will become:

  1. NASB      "a horror," v. 37
    NKJV      "an astonishment"
    NRSV      "object of horror"
    NJB      "the astonishment"

    BDB 1031 I, cf. 2 Kgs. 22:19; Jer. 5:30; 25:9,11,18,38; 29:18; 42:18; 44:12,22; 49:13,17; 50:23; 51:37,41

  2. NASB, NKJV, NRSV  "a proverb," v. 37
    NJB  "the byword"

    BDB 605, cf. I Kgs. 9:7; Jer. 24:9

  3. NASB    "a taunt," v. 37
    NKJV, NRSV    "a byword"
    NJB    "the laughing-stock"

    BDB 1042, cf. I Kgs. 9:7; Jer. 24:9

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. Where else in the OT does fire come down from heaven and consume things/people?
  2. What does the theological affirmation at the end of 2 Chr. 7:3 mean?
  3. Where else does Solomon have a divine revelation in a dream?
  4. What is the implication of all the "if's" of 2 Chr. 7:13-20?
  5. How does 2 Chr. 7:14 apply today?
  6. To what previous Scripture does 2 Chr. 7:18 refer?

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